Day 275

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Matthew Introduction

The first verse of the gospel of Matthew announces the event predicted by Old Testament prophets and long-awaited by Israel: the coming of the Anointed One, Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Under the Spirit's guidance, Matthew carefully documents Christ's claim to be Messiah: He possesses the credentials of Messiah and ministers in the predicted pattern of Messiah. He preaches messages only Messiah could deliver and finally dies the death only Messiah could die.

Scripture

October 1—Matthew 1-4: Coming of the Christ

Observation

A Jewish tax collector names Matthew writes to a Jewish audience to convince them that the King of the Jews has come. By quoting repeatedly from the Old Testament, Matthew validates Christ's claims that he is in fact the prophesied Messiah (Anointed One) of Israel. Everything about this Christ is unique. His miraculous birth and obscure yet carefully prophesied birthplace, his flight into Egypt, his announcement by John, his battle with Satan in the wilderness all point to one inescapable conclusion: Jesus is the culmination of promises delivered by the prophets over a period of a thousand years. And God's redemptive plan is alive and well after 400 years of prophetic silence!

Application

Get ten pennies, shake them up in you hand, and pour them out in front of you. Did all ten come up "heads"? If not, try again and again until they do. (By the way, the average person will have to pour out those coins more than a thousand times before he can expect to produce all "heads" even once!)

Now think of those ten coins as ten prophecies concerning the Messiah. Would you consider it coincidence or convincing proof if any one individual fulfilled all ten? How about if there were twenty? Or fifty such prophecies? Are you ready for some startling news? During his earthy life, Jesus Christ fulfilled more than three hundred specific prophecies concerning Messiah. And he did it to convince the world that his claims were true. Are you convinced? Send a friend an email. Share with that person the "Good News": Jesus Christ is King (21:5)!

Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, please guide us through Your Spirit so that our prayers will not be mere words uttered, but holy praying. Help us walk according to your Word so that unbelievers will see Jesus in us and will come to accept Him as their Lord and Savior and ultimately receive the free gift of salvation and everlasting eternity guaranteed to all that believes. We can't thank you enough and we praise your Holy name. In Jesus' name! Amen!

Pray Always!




© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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